Immediately answering your emails when you sit down to work may make you feel efficient and productive, but you may inadvertently be putting your most important work goals on the back burner. If you refer to your priority list every time before you dive into email at your desk, you won't lose sight of what's most important. With your priorities freshly in mind, how do you really want to spend the next 15 minutes?

Adams adds that this method is restricted to when you are working at your desk, which is when you are more likely to really clear your inbox. If you are moving about and want to check email on your phone, feel free to do that without consulting your to-do list first.